Glenn reaches milestone as Stamps beat Esks, clinch home playoff date

Veteran pivot now 10th all-time in passing

Calgary Stampeders quarterback Kevin Glenn looks for the pass against the Edmonton Eskimos during first half action last night in Edmonton. Glenn had another efficient night, leading the Stamps to a win and getting into the top 10 in all-time passing yardage.

Photograph by: Herald files
, Canadian Press

Sometimes, the best trades are the ones where you don’t pull the trigger — the ones that die at the boardroom table or collapse due to the lack of a return phone call from the other team.

Rejection isn’t always a bad thing.

The Calgary Stampeders considered trading Kevin Glenn to Winnipeg last winter due to their embarrassment of riches at quarterback with Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell also in the stable.

For some reason, Winnipeg general manager Joe Mack stuck with Buck Pierce, Max Hall and Justin Goltz at quarterback.

Mack was fired in early August, and the Bombers have won three games all season.

On Friday night, Glenn led the Stampeders to a 27-13 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium. With the win, the Stamps (13-3) clinch a home playoff berth.

(Should the B.C. Lions beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday in Regina, the Stamps would secure first place and a bye to the West final.)

In the first quarter Friday, the 34-year-old Glenn connected with tailback Jon Cornish for a 12-yard gain.

On that play, Glenn vaulted into the No. 10 spot the CFL all-time passing list, with Tom Clements (39,041) dropping to No. 11.

“Just to be in that kind of company, and be mentioned with those guys in the top-10, it’s a blessing,” Glenn said after the game. “It’s one of those things that right now is really hitting me.

“I just want to say I’m really proud of myself. I want to give myself a pat on the back.”

Winnipeg, how do you like the non-trade now?

“Kevin Glenn is a quarterback who is absolutely deserving of being in the top-10,” said tailback Jon Cornish, who carried the ball nine times for 145 yards.

“The fact that he got there now is great, because I think he’s playing the best football of his career so far.

“If you add the Grey Cup to that, I think that would be perfect.’

On his milestone night, Glenn went 16-of-26 for 237 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions before an announced crowd of 27,633.

After the teams traded field goals in the early-going, the Stamps took control in the second quarter. Glenn connected with his old Hamilton running mate, Marquay McDaniel, on a 29-yard touchdown pass. And Rene Paredes, Mr. Automatic, kicked his second field goal of the night to give Calgary a 13-3 lead.

The Eskimos looked ready capitulate all together with two minutes remaining in the first half. Staring at third-hand-20 from the Edmonton 48, Edmonton punter Shaw rolled to his right on an apparent fake. With three Stampeders closing in, he opted to boot the ball even with trouble in his face.Calgary defensive back Jamar Wall blocked the kick, scooped up the ball and ran 19 yards for his first career CFL touchdown to give the Stamps a 20-3 lead.

“I think he was actually trying to throw it,” Wall said. “I think his guy was covered. So he went to punt it at the last minute, and it was too late.”

Judging by the body language on the Edmonton sideline, the Eskimos looked ready to pack it in.

For some reason, Fred Stamps didn’t get the memo, and neither did his quarterback.

With time winding down in the first half, the CFL’s leading receiver caught four passes for 38 yards and drew a 35-yard pass interference penalty to set up a seven-yard touchdown grab by Adarius Bowman.

Say what you will about the Eskimos — but Stamps and quarterback Mike Reilly are keepers.

“We could have lost tonight,” Cornish said. “Edmonton is a good team. Their record isn’t really indicative of how good they are. I think next year, they could be a pretty good team.”

On play that sums up Edmonton’s season, with two minutes on the clock and the Stamps leading 24-13, Shaw nailed the post on a 32-yard field-goal attempt.

And with that, Eskimos fans fled to the exits and didn’t see Paredes make his fourth field goal of the night.

“A big win,” Glenn said. “It wasn’t pretty, but we came into a hostile environment against a good team who fought all game, and we came away with a victory.

“It was a team effort. These type of wins bring teams closer, especially at this time of year.”

Calgary Stampeders quarterback Kevin Glenn looks for the pass against the Edmonton Eskimos during first half action last night in Edmonton. Glenn had another efficient night, leading the Stamps to a win and getting into the top 10 in all-time passing yardage.

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